Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-16
MisanshrOpic Genius.


TWO CINCINNATI ARTISTS WHO HAVE FOR 30 YEARS
EvADLD THEIR FAMILIES AND FORMER ASSOCIATES
ACincinnau dispatch TO the Boston Globe says:
most peculiar case OF misanthropy and self-im
posed seclusion has Just come TO light IN this city
in which two men OF undoubted genius, and at one
time very prominent in artistic circles have been
hid from the world and their most intimate friends
for nearly a generation, though residing within
gunshot or them, and living, too, In the most alb
ject poverty, when they might, almost without
Effort, have lived In luxury and have won honors
For nearly thirty years Edward Crealand and
George Bryce have lived In the same little dingy,
dirty forlorn back room ON the upper floor OF the
old tenement house at East 30 street. They ned
no intercourse with the other tenants, and 80 far
as their neighbors could see, with no one outside
The other day gentleman stumbled upon them,
proclaimed him TO be a once famous painter, who
had disappeared from the view OF his friends and
the word a generation ago.
Years ago Edward CTealand was young artist
here who gave unusual promise OF greatness. lie
won prizes at exh billions, and even now his works
very highly, all the more because the artist was
supposed 10 have died thirty years ago. One prize
picture was that OF dog, which some person by
carelessness or design muilateI by punching out
an eye. The picture, however, was sold at "A high
figure, but the sensitive soul OF the artist was
wounded irreparably. He LEFT this city and went
TO Dayton, but soon disappeared from there and
no trace or him was every found. He was sup
posed to be dead, when In fact he had all that time
Ueen living In the very heart Vi MS NATIVE
The case OF Bryce is very similar. lie IL
ScOtchman, and when young was an artist Of more
than usual promise and attainment His his
tory is not so well known as that or his companion
In solitude but IL is known that he became soured
on the world many years ago, and determined 10
live only for his art de wandered away from his
fathers home here, and somehow got acquainted
with Crealand, and the two congenial spirits,
synpathlZing with each other their love for art
and their disgust for the world, have been close
companions ever since. They are greatly attached
TO each other, and spend most OF their time In
friendly discussion, chiefly on theology, art, and
the uncharitabeness Of the world they have left.
Their room is dirty, almost totally devoid OF fur
niture, and the rats have free entrance, In fact
furnish company for the two old misanthropes.
The diugy walls are covered with paintings any
one OF which would sell for enough TO put the
friends beyond the reach OF want, but which they
absolutely refuse 70 part with at any price, be-
cause they have sworn the world shall never
again have an opportunity 70 sneer at or condemn
their work.
they live on the cheapest food, mostly only
bread and coffee, and wear only the poorest and
cheapest clothing. BY the making OF sketches for
engravers and Ike work they manage 10 subsist
and 10 buy paints and canvas for the Indulgence
OF their love for art, which has become q perfect
mania with them. When their room will no longer
hold their paintings they destroy more or less OF
them, utterly refusing 70 give any away, and then
Row that their friends have found them out they
are not only willing but anxious to help them but
nothing Will these two singular old hermits ac-
cept preferrng their life OF poverty, with the rats
as their companions and their pictures, with indie
pendence and sc0rn for the world, 70 any OF the
comforts they have SO long done without.